The risen Christ left a folded face cloth in the tomb—His silent signature that the work is fully, finally done.
Yet how many turn His sending into striving, His commission into a ladder of performance:
“Do more, give more, build more—or you’re failing Me.”
That voice is not His.
“It is finished,” He whispers.
Rest in the doing of Another, and from that rest bear witness that the war is over.
Most people read Romans 1:1–7 as a polite hello.
They are wrong.
Paul begins with thunder: God sovereignly appoints, sets apart, promises, declares, calls, and saves — all before we ever move a finger. Election is not hidden in Romans 9; it is blazing in the very first lines.
This short Bible study from my morning notes shows plainly:
Paul was chosen, not a chooser.
Gentiles were always saved by grace alone.
The resurrection crowned Jesus as Lord.
Faith obeys because it is already saved.
“Called” means God decides who belongs to Christ.
No free-will myths survive these seven verses.
Only boasting in the Lord remains.
Come. Let Romans 1 kill your pride and heal your heart.
